Bottling-machine.



R. LITT-LEB. BOTTLING MACHINE. gPrLIOATIoN r1142]: same, 1908.

Patented Dedl7; 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR.

' R. LITTLER. BOTTLING MACHINE. APPLICATION TILED BEPT.8,1908.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

m VENTOR.

ROBERT LITTLEB, or HADDbNFIELD, new JERSEY.

BOTTLING-MAGHINE.

. r To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, ROBERT LITTLER, a citi zen ot the United States, residing at Had:

. dontield, in the county of Camden and State bottling machines, and more particularly to of New Jersey, have invented. a new and useful'Bottling-illachine, of which the following is a specification.

v This inventionrelates to improvements in thatclass in which a plurality of bottles are operated upon at one and the same time, as inhigh class, certified dairy'bottling. Its objects are, toprovide a machine that will unfailingly .sapportion and expeditiously fill an equal,.predetern1ined quantity of fluid, from a commonsource, into a plurality of open topped bottles, or similar receptacles, disposed in series below the filler openings.

A further object isto so arrange the filling means that bubbles, froth or foam may not be caused, no. air entering or becoming entrained in the entering fluid. And finally my object is to provide a mechanism so arranged that it may be operated successfully, at a high rate of speed without extraneous means, such as theuse ofa vacuum, steam, pneumatic or hydraulic power, butwith a minimum of physical exertion on the part of the operator; all of its parts are so designed as to be readily and rapidly dismounted, hygienically cleansed and antiseptically treated or sterilized, at such tipies as maybe deemed desirable, as after eacliperiod of use; all openings -or thoroughtares are straight and readily rendered sanitary without the use of special contrivances and in the, brief.-

- est possible time, and the productive capacity depends only on the size of the machine.

These and allied objects are attained by the mechanism hereinafter fully described and shown in the accompanying drawings, forming part. of these specifications, and in which Figure 1, is a front elevation of the com plete machine. Fig. 2, is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3, is an enlarged vertical section. of the filling means, including the measuring chambers, fillers. and valve devices. Fig. 4:, is a simllar section, taken through the tank filling means: ;Fig.5, is a transverse section. taken on a line indicated by a-u of Fig. 3, and, Fig. (l, is a similar section taken on a line indicated by Z)---b of Fig. 3, looking downward. r

Similar characters represent similar parts througl'i'out the several views.

. Patented Dec. 7 1909.

Application filed Septeinber 8, 1908. Serial No. 452,081. I

and 1", of convenient height and of a length sufficientto permit of several cases ofbottles being operated thereon at the sametime, as they pass successively the filling point and beyond'to their destination.

At about the center of the track-Way and between the tracks, is positioned a table 2, adapted to move vertically in suitable guideways 3, provision for such movement being made by means of a hollow'float 4, located in the tank 5, immediately below the table, or by other suitable mechanism, such as counterweights, so arranged as to nearly balance the combined weight. of the table, case and filled bottles contained therein; a catch 6, is provided to maintain the table in a depressed position when the bottles shall have been filled. the table remaining at its low point nntil the filled case is displaced by an oncoming empty case, or otherwise removed, whereupon it is caused to gradually rise to its highest point and then descend,-by' gravity, as the bottles become filled;. the bottles 7, wiile undergoing the filling operation, are contained in cases 8 resting upon the table 2, moving between the upright guides 3, which also act as supports for the tank 10, fed from a main reservoir or supply source 11.

A float 12, having a valve seat 13, at'its upper side, acts in conjunction with theinlet 1%, connected by a union 15, to the feed pipe 16, which leads from tlie'main supply source 11.; this float is provided with a stem 9, passing upward through the inlet 14; this arrangement provides for a practically uniform amount of fluid within the tank 10.

Surrounding the float-l2, on its upper side is a finely meshed metallic'gauze netting 17, to

- prevent the entrance of any foreign matter to the filling mechanism or bottle below; at the lower side of the tank 10, is attached a series of cylindrical apportioning or measuring 7 chambers 1S, containing at their lower extremities valve seats 19, having prolonged tubular contii'iuations or fillers 20, adapted to enter well into the bottles as the same are brought vertically upward; at the extreme lower ends of .thefiillers 20. are attached netallic gauze strainers 21, so arrangethas are all other parts, tobe readily removable for cleansing or treating antiseptically at the upper ends of the measuring chamber are small tubes 22, open to the atmosphere at their upoer ends which project slightly above the top of the tank 10, thus providing a vent The mechanism consists of a track-way 1, i to facilitate the removal or renewal of contents within: the measuring chambers; positionally located centrally within the chambers are valve stems 23, having conical valves 24,at their lowerfiends and bored attheir upper ends to receive therein stems 26, extending downward from the piston valves 27, movable within the cylindrical passage 28, between the tank 10, and measuring chamber 18, and adapted to act as cut oil valves; each of the stems 26, is recessed at an angle transversely, as at 29, for the pin 30, Loosely fitting appropriate holes in the valve ends 25, forming in effect a sliding joint which allows a certain amount of individual longitudinal movement to either of the valves 24, or 27, but providing that an excess movement of one shall cause a .corresponding movement of the other; each of the piston valves have an operating stem 31,-

connected at their upper ends, in such manner as to be readily dismounted, to rods 32, disposed transversely of and above the tank, the same being supported in vertically movable members 38, and 33, at either side of the tank and having a common operating means by reason of the links 34, and hand lever 35, arranged convenient of access by the operator.

'From the foregoing it will be seen that in operation a case containing empty bottles is v placed on the track-way at the right of the machine and moved over the table 2; this action liberates the catchG, whereupon the table rises, each of'the fillers 20, entering its appropriate bottle. As the bottles rise the hand lever 35, is operated, transmitting motion through its connections to the valve stems, raising the piston valves 2?, higher and eventually opening the valves 24, whereupon the fluid contained within the measuring chambers 18, flows freely down through the fillers 20, at this time well. within the bottles. As the bottles become filled they gradually sink until the fluid in the chambers has transferred itself to them, and, as the table reaches its normal low position, it becomes locked again automatically by the catch 6;-now if the lever 35, be given a reverse movement the valves 24, become again seated and a continued movement of the hand lever 85, lowers the piston valves 27, so that the passageway between the tank and measuring chambers becomes open and the latter filled, any air in the chambers escaping through the vent tube Meanwhile the displacement of fluid in the tank 10 causes the float 12, to descend, opening the supply valve 13, until the normal level of fluid is again reached from the main supply source, at wh ch time the float will have risen and automatically closed the inlet thus providing against a possible overflow, as

well as assuring a practically uniform head or quantity of fluid in the tank. Similarly asecond case of empty bottles is placed on eeaan the track-way and, moving forward, dis places the filled case, which is pushed away for further disposition and the same course of procedure again follows.

Obviously, if the tank 10, be filled it will so remain as long as the valves 27, are kept closed, or in the position indicated; if however the'valves 27, be depressed, a portion of the fluid in the tanklt), will flow, by gravity into the measuring chambers 18, the air therein escaping through the tubes 22; then if the valves 27, be raised or brought again to their seats, communication between the tank and measuring chambers is closed'and ifthe stems 31, be further raised the valves 24, will be caused to openand the contents of the measuring chambers permitted to How simultaneously through the fillers 20, and, as they reach well into the bottles. no froth or foam is caused, but the bottles filled to the extent of the fluid contained within the measuring chambers. It will also be evident that no springs, rubber or other joint packings of any kind are required but all vparts are of a nature to withstand hard usage and heat treatment to an extent sufiicient to sterilize the entire construction as no steam, water or air pipe is attached it is possible to provide the machine with casters or wheels, thus making it readily portable if desired.-

Having thus described my invention what. I claim as new and desire to secure by Let.-

ters Patent is:

1.. In a bottle filling machine, the combination with a fluid supply tank, of a pluality of chambers, connected with said tank, piston valves controlling the passage between said tank and chambers, valves controlling the egress of fluids from each chamber, an operating means comprising a system of levers and handle therefor, rigid connections limitedly slidable between the piston and lower valves, adapted to allow an exeess motion to the first named valves and single connections between each of the said first named valves'and their operating means.

2. In a bottle filling machine, comprising means for elevating and supporting a plurality of bottles, a series of fillers positionally located to enter the mouth of the bottle and a supply tank common to all of said fillers, the combination with a series of measuring chambers intermediate of the nation with a fluid supply tank, of a pin-- rality of measuring chambers-detachably secured to the bottom of said tank and having single cylindrical passage ways communicating therewith, piston valves movable 1on-- gitudinally within said passage-ways, conical valve seats formed at the inner ends of the measurlng chambers, valves fitted thereto adapted to close by gravity and having hollow stems extending vertically upward within the measuring chambers, stems attached to the piston valves extending downwardland slidable within the hollow valve stemsy-connections between the said .valve stems whereby'the' piston valves have a definitely greater range of movement imparted to them than may be given to the conical valves, rods attached to the opposite ends of saidpiston valves and means for operation thereof, allsubstantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subsc'ribin witnesses.

ROBERT LITTLER. Witnesses i CHAS. H. lWEsTHooK,

DAVID SINGER. 

